So I am back. And although it has been over a month, there does not seem to be a whole lot of interesting trailers out there. It's been tough going through so many, when so few where worth talking about. But I will go with what I have – both good and bad.
GENERAL ORDERS NO. 9
Directed by Robert Persons.
Starring William Davidson.
The trailer for General Orders No. 9 is very well-made. It is a visually stunning piece of great cinematography, coupled with a stunning soundtrack and an abundance of review quotes to make you feel all giddy inside. The only trouble is the voice over.
After a few viewings, I realised that I would stop listening to the narration altogether about 20-30 seconds in. The voice over practically disappears to me as I watch; or rather, it gets cancelled out due to the weight of the rest of this overwhelming trailer. If you do try to pay attention (it is hard, trust me) it is never clear what is meant by the words uttered, nor does it describe a clear plot – leading the viewer to believe it could be a documentary. And that is about all we can say for sure, other than it being a perhaps pessimistic, apocalyptic film.
It looks like a breathtaking piece, but it takes a while for the viewer to fully understand this, for however beautiful the trailer may look, there is also a request to focus on the voice talking over the images.
It is the kind of trailer that teases, rather than excites. The soundtrack provides a mystical undertone and plays with the audience so that they may research the film and gain interest, rather than be spoon-fed information about it. This makes for a trailer that really knows its audience, but perhaps limits itself too much. It could stand some loosening up, or at least a second, more mainstream-friendly version. It would be interesting to see if the distributors could pull that off.
Although this is a simple trailer composition, the visual and audio are both so strong they nearly cancel each other out, making it difficult for the viewer to watch and fully take in. There is furthermore a music video quality to the trailer, which could be misrepresenting the film (not misleading) but could also be why it is so good. 8/10.
TAKE SHELTER
Directed by Jeff Nichols.
Starring Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain and Shea Whigham.
Upon first viewing the trailer for Take Shelter, I was surprised the trailer to such a complex-looking film (for lack of a better and more precise description) would have such a Hollywood-esque structure.
However, the more I watch it, the more different ways I see it. It is a piece that demands full attention and some time from the audience to really grab their attention, requiring more than one quick view. It’s a hard but enjoyable watch. And I say this, for it has a lot to offer and various elements in the trailer make for a strong edit that excites and titillates.
The introduction is spot on: not too long, poignant and well-edited. The supporting character comments the main character on the quality of his life, while said main character is watching a threatening tornado approach with disturbing curiosity rather than fear. A perhaps obvious marriage of audio and video for a solid first five seconds, but they work.
Overall, there is a nice progression of events, a good build-up, an excellent choice of music, a steady pace. As always, I will moan a bit about the use of quotes, as I do not think they are ever necessary – this is valid even more so for this trailer. Everything stands so strongly on its own.
And yet, part of me realises that they are not nearly as disturbing as in other similar trailers. They almost blend into the shots they are placed over; the fonts used are subtle and the quotes themselves are without the usual frown-inducing star ratings, industry buzz words and exclamation marks (bar one or two exceptions). They will appeal to a global audience as a result, without getting too much hatred from the likes of your truly.
The montage at the end is chilling, but not over-the-top and brain-meltingly intense. Many of the classical Hollywood elements are present but they are used well, deserving a whole 10/10.
WAR HORSE
Directed by Steven Spielberg.
Starring Jeremy Irvine, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston and David Thewlis.
Sometimes, some things are so appalling and grotesque they do not deserve the time of day. Other times, similar awful things are worth writing novels about, because they are indeed so awful – there is a need to rant about them and their ugliness. I am not sure which one of these categories the trailer for War Horse truly belongs in.
There is a very odd, almost unconventional, approach to this trailer. It starts off with the shot of a lone horse running through a battlefield as bullets fly around it and fires burn; leading into a single, long, spaced out quote by an old man. Insert graphics: “A film by Steven Spielberg”. And then – nothing.
Not quite “nothing”, obviously. A lot less than anticipated, yes, in the sense there are no sound effects whatsoever (stingy, much?) and no gripping shots to talk of. The editor has definitely tried to compile a long sequence of various shots that on the page sounds thrilling and moving when cut together, but this is what one would call an “epic fail”. The trailer making conventions used here are 20-odd years old and have no charm whatsoever. If feels like all efforts have been put into conveying a nostalgic, heart-felt, moving trailer, but it falls flat and feels dated and empty.
This is how an emotional trailer should NOT be made. It is dull, flat, powerless. The fades between shots are disgusting; the music all-too-familiar (we get it, John Williams).
The worst bit is, I am not 100% sure who this is being sold to? Oscar contenders used to look like this. Is it a kids film? Maybe. Who is this movie for? Those who remember the Great War? I am genuinely puzzled. It is an awful piece of editing, with the endless dissolves, close-ups of gasping faces and tracking shots of cute English villages. Is this what the masses want?
Save me from the atrociousness. 1/10.
Louise-Afzal Faerkel
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